When Apple announced their new 2018 lineup of iPhones, many people were anxious to see which option fits their needs best. There were a total of three main variations, with the Apple iPhone XR being the final one to release. The wait is over, as it is now out. Does it provide the best value though, or was Apple forced to cut too many corners to get it to a certain price point?
I have not had the chance to play with the Apple iPhone XR for that long yet, but I will update if need be. The long wait made me anxious to write up my thoughts since I know so many people were waiting to compare all the new offerings before making a purchasing decision.
In order to be as transparent as possible, I want to state that I have tried all three new phones, but currently only own the iPhone XS. The iPhone XS Max was tested for a few days, and I’ve had a few days to test the iPhone XR as well.
Initial Thoughts
I’ve tried all the iPhones currently available, which I know is not the norm for the average reader. I felt like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are both very good upgrades to the iPhone X. I was originally skeptical as to where this would leave the iPhone XR when it was announced. It sounded like a good option, but I didn’t think it would look, feel and perform at such a high level.
The size and weight of the iPhone XR is a little bit more than the iPhone XS, and it was enough for me to notice when first opening the phone. I was fine with that, because the screen was also noticeably bigger. Many might think that a 5.8” display and a 6.1” display would not be that much different, but everything looked bigger and put less strain on my eyes.
Everything else during the initial opening/set up process seemed pretty similar to other iPhones. There were no hidden surprises, as headphones, a charging cord and Apple stickers were included as always.
Apple iPhone XS (and Apple iPhone XS Max) vs. Apple iPhone XR
Anyone purchasing a new iPhone soon really wants to get right down to the main differences between the iPhone XS and the iPhone XR. The price difference is significant enough to make a lot of people consider the lesser of the two main models, but only if Apple was not forced to sacrifice too much.
Display
The Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max both use the Super Retina HD display, which is Apple’s way of saying that these phones have really sharp resolution. They label the iPhone XR screen as a Liquid Retina HD display, but if you are like me, those names don’t really tell you anything.
During use, I can definitely tell the difference. Even though the Apple iPhone XS screen is smaller, it is still sharper and easier to see compared to the iPhone XR. When looking at the specifications, it’s understandable. The iPhone XS is an OLED Multi-Touch display, with 2436-by-1125-pixel resolution at ppi. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR is a LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technology with 1792-by-828-pixel resolution at 326 ppi.
Don’t get me wrong: the screen on the iPhone XR is great. If you are coming from the iPhone 8 or prior, you are going to think this is the best looking screen you’ve looked at. Just know that the screen might be the most noticeable difference between the iPhone options currently out.
HDR display and 3D Touch are also missing from the display on the iPhone XR. These features are not used as much on a daily basis, but it is still something to keep in mind when doing comparison shopping.
Finally, although I didn’t notice it that much when using the different phones, the contrast ratio is much better on the iPhone XS. It has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, while the iPhone XR sits at only 1400:1. Those numbers sound nowhere near each other, but I pretty much had to seek out the difference once I read about it instead of noticing it right away.
I feel like the display is far and away the biggest selling point for the iPhone XS at this stage. If people are able to do a comparison in person, some might not be able to resist the beautiful OLED display. When holding the two phones side by side and using them for this review, that’s the thing that stood out the most to me.
Performance
The Apple iPhone XR really shines when it comes to daily performance, in part because it is working with the same A12 Bionic chip found in the more expensive options on the market. The RAM is knocked down to just 3GB compared to 4GB, but that is partly because the display doesn’t need that much RAM to operate.
I tested things by trying to perform the same tasks on both phones. I found there to be practically no difference in daily use. Even when multitasking to levels I normally never reach, neither phone had any issues at all. The XR handles augmented reality without any issues as well.
Perhaps my most telling test to make sure both were performing at the same level was what I’m calling the Fortnite test. I’m not into the game that much (yet), but I know that it has just a little bit of popularity. It loaded in about 20 seconds on the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, which is an improvement compared to my iPhone X from last year. I’ve read it takes close to double that amount of time on the Galaxy Note 9 on average.
The A12 Bionic Chip was covered quite a bit in the iPhone XS review, but it is worth mentioning that this is the best “brain” in a smart phone right now. These phones simply blow away the competition from other companies, and compared to an iPhone 8 or something even before that, this will be a huge difference.
Leaks have been out that the A12 Bionic Chip would be in the iPhone XR for a while now, but it’s still pretty surprising to me. It is great news for consumers that they don’t have to sacrifice anything with the most important chip in the phone.
Design
The iPhone XR design really helps to make it look like more than just a cheap alternative. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus just look old compared to the bezel-less look first introduced on the iPhone X last year. I’m glad they went this route with all the models since the old look clearly ran its course.
There are a few signs that this is a cheaper model if you look closely enough. The stainless steel frame on the iPhone XS is very high quality, but the matte aluminum one on the iPhone XR is a solid alternative. According to some drop tests run by others, the iPhone XR does not have as strong of glass on the back of the phone, so try not to be too rough.
I actually did not notice one design flaw until reading another review online, but now that I’ve seen the Lightning port offset on the bottom of the iPhone XR, I can’t unsee it. This is the definition of nitpicking to some, but it’s one of those things you really don’t expect to see from Apple in any way. They are usually very careful with making everything line up perfectly.
Overall, I’d give the design a solid 8/10 if I was grading the iPhone XR. It passes the eye test in a lot of ways, but just a few specifics are missing that keep it from being a truly great smart phone. Perhaps that is part of the compromise when opting for the cheaper option.
Front and Back Camera
At first glance, the cameras on the phones are pretty much equal. They both come equipped with a 12-megapixel camera on the back, f/1.8 aperture and Smart HDR technology. However, the lack of a second telephoto lens means that there is no optical zoom on the iPhone XR. That’s a bit of a blow for heavy camera users, but it just comes down to how often the zoom is used.
The front camera is the exact same on both cameras. A 7-megapixel front-facing camera that comes with a f/2.2 aperture works really well when taking pictures and shooting video. Smart HDR, Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting and new effects can be found. If you are mostly taking selfies, it won’t matter one bit which phone you pick.
It was great to see that Portrait Mode with Depth Control made its way to the iPhone XR. That was one of the most hyped up features for the iPhone XS, so to have it on the cheapest option is a major win. It only works on actual human faces, meaning it isn’t quite as flexible, but that was pretty much the only reason I was going to use it in the first place. I wasn’t planning on a ton of portraits of inanimate objects.
Since the front facing camera is the same, Face ID is fully functional on the iPhone XR. Most people jumping to this phone will be getting their first taste of this technology, and while there are some tough moments at first, it works well. There will be times you will be instinctively trying to push a non-existent home button, but it is the sacrifice you have to make for a nice, big screen.
Battery
The bigger phone and extra weight might be a hinderance for some, but it does come with one positive: a better battery. Thanks to a little bit more space and a phone that does not consume quite as much power during tasks, the battery life on the iPhone XR is strong.
Apple states on their website than you should expect up to 25 hours of wireless talk time, 15 hours of internet use, 16 hours of video playback and 65 hours of audio playback on a full charge with the iPhone XR. This puts the battery pretty much on par with the bigger iPhone XS Max, and better than the iPhone XS. In fact, after using the iPhone XS for a while now, I really wish it had that little bit of extra juice to fully get through the heavy use days.
Charging is the same on all three iPhones, meaning a person can fast charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes. You do need the proper accessories to be able to pull this off, but it’s nice to know that charging can be fast.
Color Choices
In a world of smartphone cases, Apple is trying to give their consumers a bit more of an incentive to use a clear case or go completely without one. Apple is one of the few companies offering a smartphone in a range of six bright colors. Black, white, yellow, red, blue and coral all look very sharp, and it allows for people to stand out a bit from the crowd. I personally think the red and blue are the sharpest looking options, but just having options is something I can get behind.
Apple seems to be taking a page from their old playbook with these colors on the iPhone XR. Years ago, they released the iPod mini with just 4 GB of storage and a pretty hefty price tag. However, the aluminum cases came in some bright colors that sparked interest. When the dust settled, it was one of Apple’s most successful iPods.
It is too early to tell how people will tackle the new colors on the iPhone XR. I know I am used to wrapping my new iPhone with a case and/or screen protector almost instantly. Will color make a huge difference? Apple is banking on it.
Capacity
The entry level capacity for all three phones is 64 GB, which in my opinion can only really be recommended to light users. Yes, getting cloud storage is a possibility, but it’s easy to fill up a 64 GB phone without even trying. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max jump to 256 GB and 512 GB options, with a $200 increase for both. Meanwhile, the 256 GB jump is only $150 more than the 64 GB model, while, the 128 GB is only $799. For most people, I would recommend the $799, 128 GB iPhone XR as the best value.
Sometimes I wonder what exactly Apple is doing with capacity options. I think the 64 GB option should largely be passed over at this point, although I can see why they keep it in order to keep cost down. Pricing jumps seem to be a bit random, but it is good for consumers because the 128 GB iPhone XR option seems to be a real steal at this point. Getting double the capacity for just an additional $50 is a no-brainer, even if it is just a safety net for those who might take a few too many videos or photos than they originally planned to do when they first decided to make the purchase.
Final Thoughts
After having the Apple iPhone XS for a while, I really felt I made the right choice. All it took was a weekend with the iPhone XR to make me question things. Yes, the iPhone XS performs better, and the iPhone XS Max pretty much does everything a little bit better than the iPhone XR. The pricing is what makes me pause, and what will likely make other consumers pause.
It really seems like Apple is adapting to consumers with this release schedule. They are realizing that not everyone needs the latest and greatest all the time. By offering a more budget friendly option with new colors, buyers can feel like they are getting a brand new product, not a repackaged old phone (looking at you, iPhone 5C).
A better screen, better zoom options and a slightly smaller form factor might not be worth $999 for the entry-level iPhone XS and $1099 for the entry-level iPhone XS Max. Apple seems to realize that they will be able to retain their consumers who want the best and most powerful, while also offering a slightly lesser version for $749.
II do think that the iPhone XR is the best value iPhone during its initial release ever. Just understand that the company did have to make some minor sacrifices to get to that price point. The premium feel of the phone, from the very beginning when you take it out of the box to daily use, is there. For that reason, it’s the phone I’d recommend the most out of the three new options.
Born and raised in Chicago. Former high school teacher who became sick of getting summers off so I took on a 12-month a year job.